Material handling device



June 8, 1943. L. J. VALUSEK 2,321,266

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVI CE Criginal'Filed Aug. 3, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORZ 4/700 (1 107A u f/r A TTORNEYJ June 8, 1943. L. J. VALUSEKMATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Criginal Filed Aug. 5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 0WWW W E n M w U m A Mind/$ I l I I I l Juqe 8, 1943. L. J. VALUSEKMATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 3, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVIFNTOR.

A 6 00 I/m wf/r ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 8, 1943 Ladd J. Valusek, Detroit, Mich, assignor toGeneral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich a corf notation of Delaware Vr oFF-ice Original application August 3, 1940, .Scrial No.

350,710. Divided and this appiication March 21, 1942, Serial No. 435,734

3 Claims. l. 214-130) This invention relates to a material handlingdevice and more particularly to a device for loading a sheet metal rollinto an uncolling cradle.

Many difficulties are incurred in the handling of large rolls or coilsof sheet metal strip. This is particularly true when the coil weighsseveral tons.

It is the object of this invention to produce a device for loading asheet metal roll into an uncoiling cradle which is of simple structure,easily and safely operated whereby injury to the workman and damage tothe cradle as well as the coil are entirely avoided.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing the combined cradleand loader.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the combined cradle and loader.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of loader.

Fig. 6 is a, section along the line 6-4: of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the cradle which is to beloaded with the roll I of sheet metal strip comprises a plurality ofrollers 2 mounted on horizontal shafts 3 carried by a suitable frame 4.The rollers are positioned arcuately so that they fit the cylindricalsurface of the roll. The roll I is held centered on the rollers by apair of discs 5 and 6. Discs 5 and 6 are adjustable by means of screws 1to center the roll I on the rollers 2.

To facilitate loading the roll I into the cradle, the cradle is providedwith a plurality of chains 9 each of which is afiixed at one end to thecradle frame 4 as at I0. Each of the chains 9 is passed around a pulleyI I and has its other end fixed as at I2 to a piston rod I3 carried bypiston 14 in cylinder I5. A separate cylinder and piston is provided foreach chain 9.

Fluid, preferably oil, under pressure is supplied to the cylinder I5 byline I I, which connects through rotary valve 40, relief valve 4| withoil pump 42 driven by motor 43 which pumps the oil from reservoir 44.Line 45 connects cylinder I5 in back of piston I4 with reservoir 44.Valve All connects with line 45 through line 45. In the full lineshowing of Fig. 1, oil under pressure flows from pump 42 through lineI9, valve 40 and line Il into the right hand end of cylinder I5 thusmoving the piston to the left (Fig. 1). If valve 40 is now rotatedcounterclockwise ninety degrees, line I! is connected by valve 4!! withline 46 and return line 45. Valve 40 at this time closes line I9. Theoil now drains slowly from cylinder I 5, through line H, valve 49, lines46 and. 45 into the reservoir, thus permitting the piston I4 togradually move toward the right, Fig. 1.

The coil I is rolled upon stationary table 20 from a truck or othersuitable vehicle. Table 20 is inclined downwardly toward chain 9. Roll Iis held stationary on the inclined table 20 by dog 2I controlled byeccentric I8. Preferably chains 9 are slightly slack preparatory toreceiving the roll I. When dog 2| is released by turning eccentric I8 todotted line position (Fig. 1), roll I rolls down inclined table 20 andon to chains 9 above the cradle 4.

At this time valve 40 is operated so that fluid is exhausted slowly fromcylinders I5 to the right of pistons I4 (Fig. 1) As the piston movesslowly to the right, chains 9 are gradually slacked ofi permitting ther011 I to gradually lower into the cradle I until it rests upon therollers 2.

After the roll I is used up in manufacture, the cradle is ready to bereloaded. Preparatory to reloading, valve 40 is operated to admit fluidunder pressure through line I! into cylinder I5. This causes piston I4to move to the left thereby drawing chains 9 around'roller II to elevatethe same above the cradle in their original slightly slack position toreceive a new roll or coil of strip sheet metal.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5, instead of a plurality of chains 9there is provided a plurality of pairs of rails 25. The outer ends ofthe rails have a pivotal connection as at 26 with the cradle frame 4 andthe inner end of the rails are pivotally connected with a pin and slotconnection 27 to the upper end of a vertically reciprocable piston rod28 secured to piston 29 in vertical cylinder 3?). Cylinders 30 areconnected to a source of fluid under pressure in the same manner ascylinder I5. When the rails .25 are raised, the coil I is rolled on tothe same and fluid is gradually exhausted from beneath the piston 29 toslowly lower the rails and coil I on to rolls 2 in the cradle. After thecoil is used, rails 25 are again raised by admitting fluid underpressure into the cylinder below the piston and exhausting fluid fromabove the piston.

It will be noted that both in the principal and modified forms of theinvention that the chain 9 and rails 25 serve as elevators primarily forlowering the coil I into the cradle. The eleva- =.tors 9 and 25 can beused for raising the roll I lower in said cradle and to receive saidroll while raised, the said pairs of levers being positioned side byside in spaced relation, the levers of each pair being aligned andhaving their adjacent ends pivotally connected together for raising andlowering movement, a fixed pivotal support for the outer ends of each ofthe levers, and power 'form of two pairs of levers arranged to raise andlowering simultaneously the two pairs of levers in the cradle, the saidlevers when raised being arranged to receive the said roll preparatoryto lowering the same into the cradle.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the iwer means is fluidoperated and comprises a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in thecylinder, and a connection between the piston and the said pairs oflevers for raising and lowering the same.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power means isoperated by fluid under pressure and comprises a vertically positionedcylinder, a piston reciprocable vertically therein, a piston rodconnected at one end to the piston and having a connection at its upperend with the said levers in the form of a pin and elongated slot.

LADD J. VALUSEK.

means connected to the said leversfor raising and 20

